Adhesively attached marking indicia



Dec. 31, 1957 F. s. TOBEY ET AL 2,818,168

ADHESIVELY ATTACHED MARKING INDICIA Filed April 15, 1955 MM/w' ATTORNEYUnited States Patent ADHESIVELY ATTACHED MARKING INDICIA Frederic S.Tobey, Sharon, Mass, and William H. Muttera, Jr., Mequon, Wis.,assignors to W. H. Brady Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation ofWisconsin Application April 15, 1955, Serial No. 501,702 2 Claims. (Cl.206-56) This invention relates to adhesively attached labels and it morespecifically resides in a label and a method for attachment of the samewherein the label comprises a strip of sheet material having a frontface bearing marking indicia and an attachment face to be adhered to anitem, there being employed in conjunction with the label a mask that isdisposed over the marking indicia as a protective cover while a fluidcementitious material is applied to adjoining surfaces of the label andthe item to which it is being attached, which mask is specially adaptedto be stripped from the label upon a hardening of the cementitiousmaterial to expose the marking indicia for ready identification.

In the manufacture of transformers, reactors and numerous otherelectrical items, it is common practice to label coils, lead wires andthe like with tape bearing suitable marking indicia. In one form, thepractice of this invention concerns the use of adhesive backed tape,carrying such marking indicia that is readily applied for such purposes.To augment the adhesion of the adhesive, and thereby enhance thepermanency of the attachment of the label, a bonding agent ofccmentitious material is coated over adjoining surfaces of the label andthe item to which it is being attached. A japanning cement mayadvantageously be employed as the bonding agent, and upon drying itensures a more effective retention of the edges of the tape upon theitem to which it is adhered, even under extreme abusive handling.

So that the marking indicia are not obscured during the application anddrying of the cementitious material a masking strip is temporarilydisposed over the area of the label bearing the indicia. This maskingstrip is also adhesively backed, for an intimate adherent contact withthe label that effectively seals oil the indicia bearing label area topreclude depositing of the cement upon the indicia. Upon hardening ofthe cement the masking strip has performed its function, and is thenreadily stripped from the label to again bare the marking indicia.

It is an object of this invention to provide an adhesively attachedlabel and a method of attachment therefor in which marking indiciaappearing on the label are clearly legible after attachment has beenmade.

It is another object of this invention to provide an adhesively attachedlabeland a method of attachment therefor in which the label may bebonded in position by the use of a cementitious material withoutimpairment of the legibility of marking indiciaon the label.

It is another object of .this invention to provide a method ofattachment for an adhesively attached label in which the label may bedipped in a fluid cement without coating the cement over label areascarrying marking indicia.

It is another object of this invention to provide an adhesively attachedlabel including a masking strip to be placed over marking indicia uponthe label during the process of application, which masking strip isreadily stripped therefrom after application to expose the indicia.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention appearin the description to follow. In the description reference is made tothe accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, and in which thereis shown by way of illustration and not of limitation specific formsthat may be employed in the. practice of the invention and the method ofemployment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a label bearing marking indiciaadhered upon an item to which it is to be attached,

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the label and item shown in Fig. lwith a mask placed over the marking indicia of the label,

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the label, mask and item shown inFig. 2 coated with a cementitious material,

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the coated label and item with themask removed, upon a hardening of the cementitious material havingoccurred,

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of another form of label and associatedmask in which the invention is embodied,

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of the label and mask of Fig. 5 woundabout an electrical conductor,

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of the label and mask of Fig. 6 with themask partially removed, the conductor having been coated with acementitious material, and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a mounting card uponwhich a plurality of labels with associated masks are mounted side byside.

Referring now to the drawing, a flat plate 1 is shown, as arepresentative illustration of an item to which it IS desired to attachan identification label 2. The label 2 carries suitable marking indicia3 for the purpose of identifying the plate 1, and it is contemplated toattach the label 2 in a manner to withstand abusive handling andtreatment, with a minimum of susceptibility to peeling from the plate 1,to thereby provide a degree of permanency of the attachment of the label2 that enhances the useful life of the item.

The identification label 2 comprises a thin strip of pliant sheetmaterial 4 such as cloth, fabric, paper, film or other suitablecomposition, with an upper face that carries the marking indicia 3- anda lower attachment face coated with a layer of tacky pressure sensitiveadhesive 5. As a preliminary step in the attachment of theidentification label 2 it is placed upon the item 1, in the positionshown in Fig. 1, and a slight downward pressure is brought to bear uponthe label 2 to cause an adherence, through the action of the adhesive 5,which is to be supplemented by the subsequent steps of the method ofattachment to be described. In some applications, a thermal settingadhesive may be advantageous, for effecting a permanency of thisadhesive through application of heat.

In Fig. 2 there is shown a mask 6 that has been placed over the markingindicia 3. The mask 6, similarly as the label 2, is formed from a thinstrip 7 of pliant sheet material coated on one side with a layer ofpressure sensitive adhesive 8. In this instance, however, it is notdesirable to have an adhesive layer readily vulcanized by heat treatmentand it is preferable that the adhesive 8 be permanently tacky ascontrasted with a thermal setting adhesive that might be selected forthe label 2. By the term permanently tacky is, meant that the adhesivewill not readily harden during a heat treatment, as contemp'latedherein, and that substantial tackiness is preserved until the final stepin the attachment of the label 2, at which step it is desired to readilyremove the mask 6 by stripping from the label 2'.

Extending from one end of the mask 6 is a release tab 9 formed from anend of the strip 7 and a stiff rectangular piece 10 held against the endbyithe adhesive 8. There is no exposed adhesive on the tab 9 and itprovides a convenient means for grasping the mask 6. The application ofthe mask 6 to the label 2 provides a covering in tight intimate contactwith the surface areas of the pliant strip 4 that carry the markingindicia 3. The adhesive 8 seals the indicia 3 to act as an imperviousprotective masking during subsequent steps in the application of thelabel 2 to the plate 1. By tightly pressing the mask 6 against the label2, and with a proper proportioning of the tab 9, the tab 9 will tend tostand upright away from the label 2, to facilitate its function as afinger grip.

After the placement of the mask 6 in position upon the label 2, as shownin Fig. 2, a coating of a fluid cementitious material 11 is applied overthe exposed surfaces of the label 2 and the adjacent surfaces of theplate 1. As shown in Fig. 3, the entire plate 1 has been dipped in thematerial 11 to accomplish the step of coating. The material 11 maycomprise an insulating varnish or other suitable bonding agent thathardens by drying. Preferably, the material 11 is a japanning materialsuch as a glyptol resin varnish characterized by a thermal settingproperty whereby accelerated oxidizing may be had. The release tab 9extends obliquely away from the label 2 so as not to interfere with theapplication of the material 11 and it remains free, as a means to begrasped for a subsequent removal of the mask 6.

After applying the coating 11 it is heat dried to form a hardened bondfirmly uniting with the label 2, and jacketing the edges of the label 2under a shell-like covering. The application of heat may also vulcanize,or set, the adhesive of the label 2, if a vulcanizable adhesive wereselected, to bond the same with a high degree of permanence to theplate 1. The permanently tacky adhesive 8 of the mask 6 will remain morecohesive than adhesive during the heating or drying period, and tocomplete the method of attachment of the identification label 2 therelease tab 9 is now grasped and pulled backward over the mask 6 to peelthe mask 6 from the surface of the strip 4. The marking indicia 3 arenow exposed, as shown in Fig. 4, and are clearly legible for readyidentification of the plate 1. The mask 6 functioned as an imperviousprotective covering during the application and drying of the material11.

Referring now to Fig. 5, there is shown another form in which theinvention may be embodied. A label 12 is comprised of a narrowlengthwise strip 13 having printed marking indicia 14 on the upper faceand a coating of thermal setting pressure sensitive adhesive 15 on thelower attachment face, which construction is similar to that of theidentification label 2 of Figs. 1-4. Adhered to one end margin of thelabel 12 is a mask 16 of a suitable pliant material that is coated onone side with a layer of permanently tacky pressure sensitive adhesive17. A major portion of the mask 16 forms a continuation of the label 12,while a medial portion of the mask 16 overlaps and is attached by meansof the adhesive 17 to the end margin of the label 12. The overlappingend of the mask 16 is part of a release tab 18. The tab 18 is completedby a small stiff rectangular piece 19 held in place by the adhesive 17.The tab 18 is similar to the tab 9 and performs a like function.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 5 is particularly adapted formarking electrical conductors and other cylindrical objects of smallcross section. The end of the label 12, opposite the mask 16, is placedupon the 1tem to be marked, such as the conductor 20 in Fig. 6, and thelabel 12 is then wrapped about the conductor 21), with the successiveturns being secured in place by the adhesive 15. After encircling theentire label 12 about the item, the winding process is continued bywrapping the extended end of the mask 16 about the exposed face of thelabel 12, and as is shown in Fig. 6 the portion of the mask 16 that isadhesively attached to the face of the label 12 completes no more thanone turn about the conductor 20.

Preferably, the end of the mask 16 falls adjacent the bottom of therelease tab 18 that is integrally attached to the mask 16. The portionof the electrical conductor 20 carrying the label 12 may now be dippedin a suitable cementitious material 21, such as that employed inconjunction with the identification label 2. Through the application ofheat the material 21 is now hardened and the thermal setting adhesive 15is vulcanized to permanently bond the label 12 to the conductor 20. Thepermanently tacky adhesive 17 of the mask 16 is unaffected by the dryingprocess, and the release tab 18 is grasped for unwinding the mask 16from the label 12. As shown in Fig. 7, the mask 16 is partially unwoundto leave the marking indicia 14 exposed for ready identification of theconductor 20.

The release tab 18 is placed on the label 12 in such manner that uponstripping the mask 16 from the label 12 the end of the label 12 will notbe lifted or unwound from the conductor 20. The force exerted upon thelabel 12, upon stripping off the mask 16, is directed in the directionof winding on the label 12, rather than in the direction of unwinding.By joining the mask 16 to the label 12, as shown, before application,improper placement of the mask 16 is avoided.

The identification labels of this invention, together with the masksused in conjunction therewith may be furnished for ready use by beingmounted upon card dispensers, from which they may readily be peeled uponuse. For example, in Fig. 8, there is shown a mounting card 22 formed ofa material with a smooth face, and which has a low susceptibility topeeling at its surface. The characteristic of low susceptibility topeeling permits the temporary attachment of a plurality of adhesivelabels 23 to the card 22, to provide a convenient packaging thatprotects the adhesive and retains the shape of the labels. The labels 23are similar to the labels 12, being particularly adapted for use withsmall circular items such as electrical conductors, and associated witheach label 23 is a mask 24 that includes a release tab 25. The masks 24are similar to the masks 16, shown in Figs. 5-7, with the exception thatthe width of the masks 24 is less than the width of the associatedlabels 23. However, the masks 24 are of a sufiicient width to mask thesurface areas of the labels 23 that carry the marking indicia 26appearing thereon. Upon desiring to apply one of the labels 23 it ispeeled from the card 22, together with the associated mask 24 and thenapplied in the fashion herein described.

To facilitate the peeling of the labels 23 from the card 22 an indentedscore mark 27 is cut in the face of the card 22. The score mark 27divides the card 22 into a major portion and a narrow strip 28 runningalong one side margin. The strip 28 may be readily separated from themajor portion of the card 22 by first bending and then tearing along themark 27. Upon removal of the strip 28 ends of the labels 23 are exposedso that they may be readily grasped and stripped from the card 22, andas a label 23 is stripped clear of the card 22 the associated mask 24will be removed therewith.

The identification labels 2 may likewise be attached to a mounting cardthat serves both as a protective packaging and a convenient dispenser.For convenience in the use of the labels 2 the masks 6 may be premountedupon the labels 2, so that they will be in position upon the preliminaryadherence of the labels 2 to the items which they are to identify.

In the practice of the invention, marking indicia are readily aflixed toan object. The permanency of the attachment is enhanced by employingboth the usual adhesive on the label attachment face and a cementitiouscoating over the adjoining surfaces of both the label and the object itidentifies. The area of the label carrying the identifying indicia isprotected by an impervious covering during the application of the label,thereby preserving the legibility of the indicia, while permitting theuse of a supplementary cement that ensures a high degree of permanencyfor the attachment of the label.

We claim:

1. In a dispensably mounted label assembly the combination comprising abacking card presenting a mounting face having a limited susceptibilityto peeling; a plurality of individual label strips each of pliant sheetmaterial with a coating of thermal setting adhesive on an attachmentface in adherent contact with the mounting face of said backing card andbearing marking indicia on the opposite face; and a masking strip ofpliant sheet material for each label strip each having a permanentlytacky adhesive coating on an attachment face a portion of which face isin adherent contact with the mounting face of said backing card and aportion of which laps over an end margin of the associated label stripand is in adherent contact therewith, each masking strip including arelease tab extending from the portion of the masking strip overlappingits associated label strip.

2. In a dispensably mounted label assembly the combination comprising abacking card presenting a mounting face having a limited susceptibilityto peeling; a plurality of individual label strips each of sheetmaterial with a coating of adhesive on an attachment face in temporaryadherent contact with the mounting face of said backing card and bearingmarking indicia on the opposite face; and a masking strip of sheetmaterial for each label strip each having an adhesive coating on anattachment face one end of which masking strip overlaps a marginal endof the associated label strip and is in adhesive contact therewith andwhich extends from the label strip across said backing card as anendwise extension of the associated label strip that is likewise intemporary adherent contact with said card, each masking strip includinga release tab extending from the end of the masking strip overlapping aportion of the associated label strip that presents opposite faces dryand free of adhesive adapted to be grasped by the fingers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,096,750 Lawrence Oct. 26, 1937 2,248,317 Van Cleef July 8, 19412,363,422 Hutchings Nov. 21, 1944 2,372,994 Welch Apr. 3, 1945 2,646,379Poschel July 21, 1953 2,681,732 Brady June 22, 1954 2,721,822 PritikinOct. 25, 1955

